Melinda S. (Heaps) Diltz

Melinda S. (Heaps) Diltz, 62, of Benton Township, died Wednesday, April 30, 2025 at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. 

Born August 10, 1962 in Berwick, she was a daughter of Linda S. (Kreischer) Heaps of Bloomsburg and the late Paul W. Heaps, who died June 25, 2022.  She and her husband, Michael A. Diltz, would have celebrated their 39th wedding anniversary on May 24th.

She was a 1980 graduate of Central Columbia High School and then earned her Bachelor's of Science degree in Biology at Bloomsburg University in 1984.  She later earned her Master's degree at Millersville University in Microbiology. 

Melinda was employed by Bloomsburg University for more than 20 years, retiring in 2022, where her last position was biology lab coordinator. 

She was very active in Scouting when her boys were growing up and was a den mother when they were in cub scouts and an active volunteer as they became Boy Scouts.

Melinda especially enjoyed traveling and camping with her favorite destination being the Maine coastline.  She and her husband had visited over eighty of the Pennsylvania State Parks over the years.  Other hobbies included crocheting, making cards, reading and tending to her herb garden. 

Surviving, in addition to her husband, Michael and her mother, Linda, are her two sons:  Michael A. Diltz, II and his wife, Lacey, and their son, Archer, of Catawissa; Forrest W. Diltz and his wife, Kelli, of Duboistown; a brother, Paul W. Heaps, II and his wife, Valerie, of Benton; her mother and father-in-law, Ronald and Camille (Ann) Diltz, of Millville; her brothers-in-law:  Brian Diltz and his wife, Julie, of Millville; Christopher Diltz and his wife, Dorothy of Orangeville; nieces and nephews:  Ashley, Nathan, Thomas, Hailee, Erika, Caitlyn and Morgan.

The family would also like to sincerely thank the doctors, nurses and staff at the Geisinger Medical Center, Danville as well as at the University of Penn Hospital for their wonderful care of Melinda.

Private  graveside services will be held at the convenience of the family in Benton Cemetery under the direction of the McMichael Funeral Home, Inc., Benton.  In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in her memory to the Amyloidosis Foundation by going to www.amyloidosis.org 

The McMichael Funeral home, Inc. is honored to serve the Diltz / Heaps Family. For online condolences or for additional information, please visit our website: www.mcmichaelfuneralhome.com

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